Pool ball rack or frame



Au as, ms, LPlE' mam??? POOL BALL RACK OR FRAME Filed May 29, 1944 'Mpa- INVEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 13, 1946 OFFICE rooL BALL rtAcKoit FRAME Michael Volpe, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor of onehalf to George I. Feilback, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 29, 1944, Serial No. 537,876

Claims.

This invention relates to pool ball racks or frames, the primary object of the invention being to provide a pool ball rack or frame having means which may be forced forwardly against the rear row of pool balls being racked, moving the balls to the proper positions within the rack or frame, during the forward movement of the rack and balls to the rack spot of the table, thereby insuring a tight racking of the balls, without the necessity of pushing the balls forwardly within the rack, by the thumbs of the hands, during racking.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pool ball rack which will insure a tight racking of the balls, although certain balls are out of round or undersize.

Another object of the invention i to provide a rack or frame of this character wherein the inner surface of the side rails thereof are outwardly inclined, providing a clearance to permit the rack or frame to be readily elevated and removed, without disturbing the formation of the racked balls.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating pool balls held within a rack constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the general organization of the rack or frame, is identical with that in common use, and embodies forwardly converging side bars 5 and a rear cross-bar 6 which is rigidly connected with the rear end of the side bars, at the opposite ends of the rear cross-bar, forming a triangular frame.

The upper portion of the rear cross-bar is cut away throughout substantially its entire length, providing a clearance for the ball-adjusting tube 1, which is of a length to extend throughout the length of the cut-away portion.

Supporting pins 8 which are of diameters appreciably less than the diameter of the tube I, extend inwardly at the ends of the rear crossbar 6 and provide supports for the ball-adjusting tube 1, as clearly shown by the drawing. Because of the variance in diameters of the supporting pins 8 and tube 7, it will be obvious that the tube 1 may move or swing on its pivots 8, an appreciable distance, where it contacts with the balls held within the rack or frame, the balls being indicated by the reference character A.

In order that the triangular formation of the balls as a result of racking, will not be disturbed when the rack or frame is being removed, the inner surfaces of the side bars 5 are inclined outwardly toward the lower edges of the side bars, providing added clearance for the balls in clearing the rack, as the rack is swung upwardly from its rear end to remove the rack from the balls.

In the use of the device, the balls are placed within the rack, and the adjusting tube is forced forwardly, the adjusting tube swinging on its pivot to engage the rear row of balls. As pressure is directed to the tube, the balls are moved forwardly into close engagement with each other, and into close engagement with the side bars, making what is known as a tight rack, When pressure is relieved from the tube 7, the tube will fall to the dotted line position as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, and the rack may now be moved forwardly and swung upwardly from its rear end, removing the rack from the racked balls without disturbing the formation of the racked balls.

What is claimed is:

1. A pool ball rack comprising a frame, said frame having a cut-away portion, pivot pins extending inwardly from the walls at the ends of the cut-away portion, a tube inserted within the cut-away portion, said pivot pins extending into the ends of the tube pivotally supporting the tube, and said tube and pins being so constructed and arranged that horizontal movement of the tube forces the pool balls forwardly within the frame.

2. A pool ball rack comprising a frame, said frame having a cut-out portion formed therein, a tube mounted for horizontal movement within the cut-out portion and adapted to move the balls being racked, forwardly when the rack is moved forwardly to the racking spot on a pool table and pressure is directed to the tube.

3. A pool hall rack comprising a frame, said frame including bars connected at their ends, one bar of the frame being formed with a recess disposed along its longitudinal upper edge, an

adjusting tube mounted within the recess, and said tube adapted to move into engagement with balls held within the frame, whereby said balls are moved forwardly within the frame as the rack is moved forwardly to the racking spot of a pool table.

4. A pool hall rack comprising a frame, an adjusting tube mounted on the frame for horizontal movement with respect to the frame, bearings for the tube, and said tube adapted to rotate on its bearings, moving pool balls held in the rack, forwardly within the frame.

5. A pool hall rack comprising a frame embodying side bars and a rear bar, the rear bar having a recess disposed along its longitudinal Vupper edge, bearing pins extending inwardly from the end walls of the recess, a tube positioned within the recess, the bearing pins being extended into the ends of the tube, the inner circumference of the tube being appreciably greater than the diameter of the pivot pins whereby horizontal movement of the tube with respect to 10 the pins is permitted, and said tube adapted to contact balls held within the frame moving the balls forwardly within the frame.

Y MICHAEL VOLPE. 

